FIRST Robotics Competition

1
FIRST Robotics Competition

• For Inspiration, and Recognition of Science and
  Technology

2
FIRST Rules

• All teams get game rules on same day
• Always starts 1st Saturday in January
• Teams have 6 weeks to design and build robot
  based on game rules
• Robot must be shipped to a storage facility
• Team arrives on Thursday to qualify

3
RecommendedStaff Students

• A team leader
• A tech/shop teacher
• A web designer
• A PR leader
• A Fundraising Leader
• Extra staff person
• Engineer Mentor

• A team coordinator preferably a senior
• 20-25 Students with dedication and a variety of
  skills
• A mixture of senior and junior students

4
A Variety of Students!

• Leaders
• Web Designers
• Hands-on Builders
• Planners
• Programmers
• Game Strategists
• Case Designers
• Animation Designers

• Followers!!
• Variety of grade levels
• Mixture of males/females
• Team players
• Muscle
• Fundraisers
• Public Relations
• smooth talkers!
• Flyers/buttons/letters

5
Drive Team

• This team is comprised of four individuals who
  must keep their cool and do their best on the
  field
• Driver
• Mentor
• 2 Advisors (1 a stacker this year, last year a
  basketball player!)

6
Pit Crew

• These students know the robot intimately and
  were hands-on team members from its inception.
• Total of about 8 dedicated students
• Able to use hand tools
• Can repair damage
• Can redesign or rebuild if necessary

7
Competition Setup

• Thursday is robot qualifying day
• Weight
• Size
• Friday seed matches (randomized)
• Saturday
• Morning final seed matches
• Afternoon semi-finals and final matches to
  determine winning alliance (three teams)
• Awards presented

8
Skills Involved

• Game Strategy
• Teamwork
• Consensus
• Organization
• Deadlines
• Mentoring

• Ingenuity
• Creativity
• Perseverance
• Determination
• Programming

9
Pros Cons

• Fantastic experience
• Kids learn a lot
• Really brings school together
• Highly motivational
• Builds on a students strengths
• Anyone can be part of it
• Many ways for students and staff to contribute

• Extremely long hours
• Problems finding materials
• Steep learning curve
• Expensive!

10
2004 Championship Event
2004 Season

• Fall 2003 - Registration for Regionals
• January 2004 Design Build Phase (6 weeks)
• March April 2004 Regional Events

Atlanta, Georgia April 15 - 17
11
FIRST Awards

• Chairmans Award
• Final Champion
• Regional Champion
• Founders Awards
• Woody Flowers Award
• Autodesk Award

• Web Site Award
• Chrysler Team Spirit
• Rookie All-Star Award
• Engineering Inspiration
• General Motors Industrial Design

12
More Awards!

• Imagery
• Johnson Johnson Sportsmanship
• Judges Awards
• Entrepreneurship
• Leadership
• Motorola Quality

• Xerox Creativity
• Delphi Driving Tomorrows Technology

13
Help is Available

• Forums hosted by many teams
• Online presentations
• Regular Bulletins from FIRST
• Teacher resources
• Team Information Management System
• Autodesk Online Tutorials
• Website links
• Mentoring by other teams

14
Important Web Sites

• www.usfirst.org
• www.chiefdelphi.com
• www.firstcanadianregional.org
• www.wlmac.ca

15
Contact Info

• Janice Dyke, Program Team Leader
• William Lyon Mackenzie CI TDSB
• Web Site www.wlmac.ca
• Email janice.dyke_at_tel.tdsb.on.ca